Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the…Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the…

9. The Scripture doth say, To him that hath, shall be given, ¹and, when God distributed his talents, it was to every one as he was able, Matth. 25. If we answer to this, that theologia symbolica non est argumentativa, that is denied, and is now a-late questioned; although Austins and others comparisons about parables must needs be granted: which are, As in a picture there are lineaments and essentials of it, but, besides these, the shadows and colours, which are for mere ornament; so in Parables: Or, as others, As in the musical instrument, only the strings touched make the noise or tune, yet they could not do so, unless fastened unto the wood; so only the scope of the parable is that which is argumentative, though this principal have many accessories joined to it: And thus we may say of that passage, [Greek or Hebrew], that it's taken from the custom of men, and goeth to make up the parable. But let us consider it otherwise, and Theophylact referreth it dangerously to our preparations and dispositions. In the vessel (saith he) which I am to bring to God, he poureth in his gift: If I bring a little vessel, he giveth a little gift; if a great vessel, he giveth a great gift: But, seeing that under the name of these talents, be understood not only dona sanctificantia, but ministrantia, and the Apostle saith expressly, that the Spirit ⟨p. 103⟩of God giveth these diversity of gifts, as he pleaseth, this wholly overthroweth that exposition. Therefore the Papists, Barradius and Maldonat, do confess it makes onely ad ornatum, non ad rem per parabolam significatam; and that it's taken from the custom of men, who use indeed to look to the gifts of men, their prudence and fidelity: but we know by experience, God did not so. But if we make an argument of it, then this disposition or capacity must be either supernatural, and then it's the gift of God; or if of natural capacity, as sometimes to him that hath excellent parts, a prompt wit, an happy memory, God giveth the habit of Divinity (for there is such a thing that is distinct from the habit of faith) and a gift of interpreting Scripture, although that natural dexterity be a gift of God also, but in another kind; and then God doth not tie or bind himself to this way: and therefore, if we should say, as some do, God gave the spirit of government to Moses, because by nature he was most prudent and meek;